Hank Hohn passed away Aug. 22, 2023, at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, after sustaining a head injury from a fall, two weeks prior to his death. He worked very hard to recover but could not overcome his injury nor its associated complications.
Hank was born Feb. 12, 1939, in San Diego, California to Margaret Hohn and Henry Hohn Sr. He grew up in San Diego with three brothers and five sisters, graduated from high school and attended two years of junior college. Hank worked for the local telephone company, driving semi-trucks between San Diego and Los Angeles, prior to being drafted into the Army. Hank spent two years on active duty, during the Vietnam War, stationed at Fort Erwin, California and Wildflecken, Germany.
Hank married his beloved, Marilyn, three months after returning to the U.S. from Germany and lived in Burbank, California where he worked for Oro Wheat Bakery baking bread. Hank and Marilyn next moved to Silverton, Oregon with Marilyn’s parents, brother, sister-in-law, and their children and settled into the community. During his early years in Silverton, Hank continued working for Oro Wheat as a baker, and had a delivery route in Portland’s Albina neighborhood. He was an early supporter of, and coached, Little League. Hank joined the carpenters’ union and became a journeyman carpenter; his craftsmanship can be found in many local landmarks and buildings including the Marion Street Bridge in Salem, all the original Interstate-5 overpasses between Woodburn and Salem, the Equitable Building, the Candelaria Mall, two McMinnville schools and at least two clean-room projects for local microchip producers. Hank also owned his own general contracting firm for 10 years, through which he remodeled, renovated, and built several houses in the area.
Hank and Marilyn had two children (Henry Hohn III and Jeanine Hohn). While his children were growing up, Hank worked in all weather conditions, from dawn to dusk, to provide a stable, loving home. He was a strong family man and attended every school and musical event in which his children participated. He was also very active in his faith community at St. Paul Catholic Church, where he was a parishioner for 57 years, a “reader” for the better part of two decades, a volunteer for many events and a member of many committees to oversee operations of the church. He was a member of the fraternal order of the Knights of Columbus and built the Knight’s Oktoberfest booth, where he and his good friends spent many a year earning income for the organization’s charitable and spiritual activities. Hank loved spending time with his friends and family camping, boating, water-skiing, fishing, hunting, motorcycling, horse-back-riding, and working on cars, tractors, and yard equipment. Hank had many friends and loved ones in California, friends from the Army and friends he met and cherished in the Silverton area. He built the home he and Marilyn lived in for more than four decades.
Hank is survived by his devoted wife Marilyn, son Henry Hohn III (wife Jennifer, and grandchildren Margaret, Henry IV, Samuel, and Andrew), and daughter Jeanine Hohn (partner Michael). He is also survived by his brothers Bill Hohn and Carl Hohn, and sisters Connie Martes, Marguerite Long, Michelle Nelson and Catherine Apodaca. Hank was preceded in death by his sister Monica Manzer and his brother Mark Hohn.
Services are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023; a Rosary will be said for Hank at 10:30 a.m. and a Funeral Celebration Mass will be held at 11 a.m., both at St. Paul Catholic Church in Silverton. Hank will be interred at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Angel. A reception will follow back at the church.
